New Jersey Politicians Say Fight To Legalize Sports Betting Is Not Over
By John McDevitt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A bill to legalize sports betting in New Jersey racetracks and casinos is moving on to the 3rd District Court in Philadelphia after a federal judge on Friday ruled the Garden State can not lift a prohibition on sports betting.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has filed a notice of appeal against Judge Michael Shipp's decision. It was no surprise, since the judge has consistently sided with the NCAA and the four major U.S. sports leagues against it. But sponsors of the bill maintain it's the state's right to legalized sports betting.
"To suggest that it's not happening simply because that particular judge doesn't think it should is naive," says Assemblyman John Burzichelli of Paulsboro, one of the sponsors of the bill."
He and other proponents of the legislation say the battle is not over yet, and hope the judicial panel of the Third Circuit Court will not show resistance to sports betting and allow it in casinos and racetracks.
"I've been fighting for this for six years and I'm going to continue to fight," says New Jersey State Senator Ray Lesniak. "This will be a big boost for Atlantic City which is hurting, a big boost for our race tracks which are hurting, and it will save some jobs and bring some jobs back, so it's certainly worth every bit of the fight."
Many supporters of the bill say the people of New Jersey simply want the same right that those living in Nevada have.
"Our constitution has been corrected with respect to an amendment that says this should be legal in the state," says Burzichelli, "and we maintain this is a state's right issue."
A hearing on the appeal is not expected anytime soon.
You may also be interested in these news stories:
